While many members of the legislature were overjoyed after prosecutors suggested that police list lawmaker Lo Fu-chu (羅福助) as a hoodlum, Lo, nevertheless, still has at least one resolute supporter.
Hsieh Chi-ta (謝啟大), a judge-turned-lawmaker and convener of the New Party, criticized "procedural flaws" in the handling of the case by prosecutors who she believes infringed upon the jurisdiction of the police.
TAIPEI TIMES FILE PHOTO
Hsieh has also criticized President Chen Shui-bian (
Some of Hsieh's colleagues in the legislature said her support is intended to reciprocate help from a friend who has helped her pass a number of pieces of legislation in the Judiciary Committee, but she insists she is simply acting in accordance with justice.
Levy Ying (營志宏), another New Party legislator, described Hsieh as a person with a strong inclination to be a champion of the oppressed and who never tries to conceal feelings of love or hate.
"When everybody thinks that a certain person is wicked to the bone and hates him in the extreme, she often holds a different view and thinks that there is some merit to this person," Ying said.
Hsieh had been a teacher for 10 years and then a judge for 10 years before becoming a lawmaker in 1993 at the age of 44.
She gained fame in 1989 for throwing her support behind prosecutor Kao Hsin-wu (
Hsieh has never hesitated to involve herself in controversial issues.
During the run-up to last year's presidential election, for example, Hsieh stood up for KMT maverick James Soong (
And yet, Hsieh was unrestrained in her disdain for Soong after scores of New Party politicians defected over the past year to the People First Party -- founded by Soong.
She then publicly accused Soong of being ungrateful for poaching the New Party for talent and for pushing her party to the brink of extinction.
"I defended Soong during the presidential race because I couldn't stand the way in which Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) used the state machine to suppress a certain candidate.
"If a political party or individual disrupts the unity of the opposition alliance for its own interests, it sins as well," Hsieh said in explanation of her behavior, which often appears rather emotional in the eyes of the public.
Hsieh's devotion to legislation concerning judicial reform and women's rights won her a good reputation, but her uncompromising personality has also earned her many legislative enemies.
There have been numerous cases in which Hsieh resorted to extremes to paralyze a legislative meeting to force the support of other lawmakers for her pet legislative causes, and she never hesitates to filibuster legislation she believes should be delayed.
The most recent case took place on Friday, when Hsieh blocked three pieces of legislation related to the pay and benefit systems for the head of state, politically-appointed officials and lawmakers due to her suspicion that the bills were intended to hike their pay.
Some lawmakers were quick to come out and criticize Hsieh for her "split personality," pointing out that Hsieh had agreed to endorse the bills during inter-party negotiations.
"Her fighting spirit for legislation is commendable, but it is quite irrational for her to block legislation emotionally," said DPP legislator Tsai Huang-liang (蔡煌瑯).
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